Another Hindu lynched in Bangladesh, man beaten to death in Rajbari: What we know so far

(FILES) Security officials stand guard near the house of house of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, father of the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ahead of the verdict on cases against Sheikh Hasina, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, November 17, 2025. REUTERS/Abdul Goni

A Hindu man accused of extortion was beaten to death by a mob in Bangladesh’s Rajbari district late Wednesday night, marking yet another case of vigilante violence targeting minorities and raising serious questions about law and order in the country.

According to police officials quoted by The Daily Star, the incident took place around 11 pm when a group of villagers attacked the man following allegations of extortion. By the time police reached the spot, the victim had suffered critical injuries.

The man was identified as Amrit Mondal, also known as Samrat, a resident of the same village. Assistant Superintendent of Police Debrata Sarkar of the Pangsha Circle said officers rushed to the area after receiving information about the assault. Mondal was taken to the Pangsha Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared him dead around 2 am.

Police said Mandal was known locally as the leader of a group called “Samrat Bahini.” He was the son of Akshay Mandal and lived in Hosaindanga village.

Pangsha Model Police Station officer in charge Sheikh Moinul Islam said Mandal had at least two cases registered against him at the police station, including a murder case.

Locals told The Daily Star that Mandal had formed a criminal gang and was involved in extortion and other illegal activities for years. They said he had been hiding in India for a long period and recently returned to the village, where he allegedly demanded extortion money from Shahidul Islam, another local resident.

The killing has added to mounting concerns over mob justice in Bangladesh, where minorities have increasingly found themselves at the receiving end of violence amid political uncertainty and weak enforcement of the law.

The Rajbari incident comes just days after the brutal lynching of 27-year-old Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu garment factory worker, in Bhaluka in the Mymensingh district. Das was attacked by a mob over unverified allegations of blasphemy.

In that case, the mob reportedly beat Das, tied him up, and later set him on fire while he was unconscious. Videos of the killing circulated widely on social media, triggering outrage in India and drawing international attention to the deteriorating safety of minorities in Bangladesh.

Despite widespread condemnation, the killing of Das exposed the failure of authorities to prevent mob violence or act swiftly to protect vulnerable communities.

The back-to-back lynchings have placed the interim government under growing scrutiny. India has repeatedly raised concerns over attacks on Hindu minorities and the lack of adequate protection. New Delhi has summoned Bangladesh’s high commissioner twice in a week, signalling serious diplomatic unease over the situation on the ground.

While Bangladeshi officials have issued statements condemning the violence, these assurances have done little to reassure minority communities who say fear has become part of daily life.

Bangladesh has plunged into unrest for the second time in two years after the death of anti India activist Sharif Osman Hadi, who was shot by unidentified men during a public event days ago.

The killing triggered violent protests across parts of the country, with demonstrators resorting to vandalism and arson. Protesters accused India of being behind the attack, alleging an “Indian hand” in Hadi’s death.